HAPPY PRINCE, The Australian Ballet

We had the pleasure of collaborating with award-winning artist and director Kim Carpenter to transform his playful design sketches into physical garments for The Happy Prince, choreographed by Graeme Murphy and premiered by The Australian Ballet in 2020.

Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince is a poignant story brought to life through Murphy’s acclaimed creative vision. Paired with Kim Carpenter’s distinct and whimsical designs, the production is a visual spectacle that captivates both children and adults alike.

Using Kim’s drawings as a guide, we developed digital textile prints for a significant portion of the show’s costumes. Some pieces required precisely engineered placement prints, while others were constructed from custom-designed yardage.

Beyond interpretation, printing, and garment creation, we also produced group sets of unitards. Extracting playful elements from Kim’s designs, we incorporated them as focal points to enhance the production’s overall aesthetic. It was exciting to see our textile designs extend beyond stretch wear, appearing across a range of costumes and accessories.

The Happy Prince, 2020 The Australian Ballet

Production Credits

Based on the story by Oscar Wilde

Adapted by: Kim Carpenter and Graeme Murphy
Choreography Graeme Murphy
Creative Associate: Janet Vernon
Composer: Christopher Gordon
Set and costume design: Kim Carpenter
Lighting design: Damien Cooper
Projection design: Fabian Astore

Photo Credits: Jeff Busby